The Money Shop is preparing to give customers a sporting welcome during the opening of its 500th UK store at 215 Telford Shopping Centre, in Thetford Chase, Telford, on Tuesday June 26, 2012.

Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Store staff will be joined by snooker world champion Ronnie “The Rocket” O’Sullivan and darts aces, world number three James Wade and world number six Simon Whitlock, to officially mark the opening of the financial services company’s 500th store.

The players will be at the store from 2pm where members of the public will have the chance to meet Ronnie and play against Professional Darts Corporation players Simon and James in a challenge for the chance to win a set of branded darts.

To mark the 500th store milestone, the first ten people to score a bullseye will receive a cash prize* and the highest scorer on the day will win £500.

Headed by store manager Kate Wall, the new Money Shop store will offer professional short-term financial solutions, including payday loans, pawnbroking, cash for gold, pre-paid cash cards and Western Union money transfers. The store will also offer a range of holiday money products and services including foreign exchange and holiday cash cards.

Kate said: “It’s a going to be a fantastic day with lots going on in-store and a great opportunity for our customers to meet some of the stars from the world of darts and snooker. We hope the celebrations will be a great opportunity to raise awareness about The Money Shop.”

Andrew Bryan, marketing director, UK, The Money Shop, said: “We are delighted to be opening our 500th store in Telford. Reaching 500 stores is a huge milestone for us so it is fitting that we’re celebrating with not just one but three sporting pros and we hope that it will be a fun day for everyone.

“Managing finances is important at any time, but is especially hard in the current climate. The new store in Telford will offer a range of convenient short-term financial solutions including unsecured short-term loans, cheque cashing, secured pawnbroking loans, money transfer, foreign exchange, Titanium Cashplus prepaid Mastercard, and gold buying services.”

The Money Shop is a leading member of the Consumer Finance Association, which operates to maintain high standards of responsible lending across the short-term credit industry, and is licensed and regulated by the Office of Fair Trading.

James Wade is aiming to successfully defend his Speedy Services UK Open title when the tournament, known as the ‘FA Cup of Darts’, begins on Thursday.

The world number three is bidding for a hat-trick of titles, after beating Wez Newton in the final to claim the £40,000 first prize last year.

Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

“It’s a completely different challenge to the Premier League and any other major event that we do,” said the seven time major winner.

“I know people say they only take one game at a time but that’s literally all you can do because you’ve no idea who you’ll play in the next round if you get through.

“It’s not like the Premier League or, for example, the World Matchplay in that sense, but that adds to the excitement for me.

“I’m fortunate enough to have won twice in Bolton and it would be fantastic to do it again, but I know I’ll have a tough weekend ahead of me.”

Wade’s second round game will be against either former quarter-finalist Mark Lawrence or one of three amatuer qualifiers, who will battle it out in the preliminary and first rounds earlier in the evening.

“I still don’t know who I’ll be playing on Thursday night, and they’ll have played twice already so that adds to the challenge,” added Wade.

“It’s a short format, the first to four, so I’ll have to be ready because there’s no time to get settled in. I’ve just got to go out there and do a job.”

By Chris Murphy

James Wade

James Wade boasts an impressive eight major titles, making him the third most successful player in the history of the PDC.